Hindu Janajagruti Samiti Explained

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti
Type:NGO
Headquarters:Goa, India
Region Served:India
Purpose:Creating a Hindu Rashtra
Affiliations:Sanatan Sanstha
Num Volunteers:1000+

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) is a right-wing Hindu organisation[1] operating globally and established on 7 October 2002 by a group of Hindus from various backgrounds.[2] The organisation claims that it "stands as a common platform for all Hindus to unite breaking all the barriers", and its website carries the slogan "For establishment of the Hindu Nation".

The HJS, whose name has been translated as Committee for the Hindu Renaissance, has been described as a right-wing group and has protested numerous issues, including in 2011 both the screening of a film about the artist M. F. Husain and the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill.[3] In 2010, the Deccan Herald described the HJS as an "obscure ... small band of fanatics" when reporting the HJS protest against the exhibition of depictions of Hindu deities by Jose Pereira that were to be displayed at the Xavier Centre of Historical Research in Goa, The HJS had considered three of the paintings to be "derogatory" nude artworks and demanded their removal. It subsequently demanded that the entire exhibition be cancelled without giving any reason.[4] Other protests in 2011-2012 focused on matters such as advertising that the HJS considers to be vulgar,[5] the promotion of LGBT tourism in Goa,[6] and decisions made in Russia that were perceived to be anti-Hindu.[7]

In June 2012, the HJS arranged a five-day All-India Hindu Convention at Ponda, Goa. This attracted attendance from a range of individuals and activists representing various groups and, according to its chief organiser, was intended to "... chalk out a blue print for the protection of dharma and establishment of a Hindu Nation".[8]

In August 2012, following civil disturbances in Mumbai, the group demanded a ban on what it called "fanatical" Muslim groups such as Raza Academy.[9]

A convention organized by HJS in 2014 was supported by prominent activists such as Paras Rajput of Hindu Helpline, Sanjiv Punalekar, the national secretary of Hindu Vidhidnya Parishad, and Rabindra Ghosh, lawyer and president of the Bangladesh Minority Watch.[10]

HJS members have been suspected in the murder of Gauri Lankesh.[11]

In April 2022, HJS coordinator Chandru Moger urged people to boycott Muslim fruit vendors and buy fruits only from Hindu fruit vendors.[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Hindu Janajagruti Samiti opposes 'Sunburn' festival in Goa. Business Standard India. 15 December 2019. Press Trust of India.
  2. Web site: About Hindu Janajagruti Samiti . Hindu Janajagruti Samiti . 2020-02-22.
  3. News: Sheth . Anisha . 25 November 2011 . Empty rhetoric against anti-communal violence bill . The Hindu . 2012-08-21.
  4. News: Saffron fanatics target Goa centre over art exhibition . Devika . Sequeira . 29 July 2010 . The Deccan Herald . 2012-08-21.
  5. News: Raze all vulgar ad hoardings by Sept 28 or face agitation: HJS . https://archive.today/20130103163727/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-24/goa/30198082_1_advertisement-hoardings-face-agitation-memorandum . dead . 3 January 2013 . 24 September 2011 . . 2012-08-21.
  6. News: Goa govt drops session on LGBT tourism . 21 October 2011 . 2012-08-21. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203040101/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-21/goa/30306276_1_lgbt-tourism-swapnil-naik-goa-govt. . 3 December 2013.
  7. News: Revoke order to demolish temple in Russia: HJS . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020400/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-04-03/goa/31281105_1_russian-consulate-hindu-community-hjs . dead . 3 December 2013 . 3 April 2012 . . 2012-08-21.
  8. News: Blueprint for 'Hindu Nation' to be chalked out in Goa . 10 June 2012 . 2012-08-21. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021172621/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-10/goa/32155789_1_hindu-nation-hjs-sanatan-sanstha. . 21 October 2012.
  9. News: Hindu groups demand ban on Muslim bodies . IANS . 13 August 2012 . Newstrack . 2012-08-21.
  10. News: Be prepared to deal with terror, Hindus urged . 24 June 2014 . The Times of India.
  11. Web site: Gauri Lankesh Murder an 'Organised Crime' Planned by Sanatan Sanstha: Chargesheet.
  12. News: 2022-04-06 . Complaint against Hindu Jagruthi Samithi coordinator for hate speach . en-IN . The Hindu . live . 2022-04-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220407072200/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/complaint-against-hindu-jagruthi-samithi-coordinator-for-hate-speach/article65296290.ece . 2022-04-07 . 0971-751X.